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BA accepted the topic of "drug-taking" need not be prohibited for broadcasts but should be treated with great care and the programme hosts, in particular, should not let their personal experience prevail and give listeners the impression that it is harmless to try drugs.
The programme under complaint was broadcast on a Saturday at 7 pm to 9 pm and it was likely to have a large group of young people in its audience.
Elaborating on BA's decision, the spokesman said: "programme hosts should consider the impact which a particular view point might have on impressionable youths."
BA also decided to issue a serious warning to Wharf Cable (WC) for the broadcast of an advertisement on its Women Channel.
This was not the first occasion that WC contravened the licence condition prohibiting broadcast of any advertising material on its subscription television service. BA took a very serious view of the matter and cautioned the licensee that any further breach of the same nature would trigger the consideration of a financial penalty.
Asia Television Ltd (ATV) and Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB) were each given a strong advice for breaching the Commercial Television Code of Practice on Programme Standards.
BA did not accept ATV's argument that plot development justified the inclusion of an excessively violent fighting sequences in the drama "Midnight Lovers" shown on Home during the family viewing hours on April 7. Nor it was satisfied with TVB's explanation that the repeated utterance of a vulgar expression in the feature film "Crying Game" shown on Pearl on March 24 had escaped the station's attention because of its close resemblance to another commonly used expression.
BA also issued a strong advice to Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Ltd for the inclusion of an unsubstantiated superlative claim in the advertisement for a medical preparation. The licensee was strongly advised to discontinue the broadcast of the advertisement.
End/Monday, June 12, 1995